144 ZOOLOGY. 



of the Cascade range, but I have never observed it in the forests or near the sea shore. I 

 noticed their arrival at Puget Sound early in May, and have only once seen what I suppose 

 to have been this bird after October, although at that time I noticed differences of form and 

 flight, which led me to think it might be another species. In my notes it is recorded that, in 

 the snowy January of 1854, at Vancouver, "I saw a hawk colored like the sparrow hawk, but 

 appai-ently of a stouter form and different mode of flight." I saw it only a few times, and 

 was unable to obtain it. 



I remarked nothing in its habits not observed in the very complete accounts given of it as 

 occurring in the Atlantic States. — C. 



I obtained several specimens of the F. spnrverius both at Puget Sound and Fort Dalles. 

 They do not vary materially from those of other parts of North America, although, as in other 

 situations, individuals vary slightly. In Oregon they are particularly numerous in the "oak 

 openings" at the base of the Cascade mountains. I found this bird exceedingly abundant 

 along the upper Missouri and its tributaries, wherever there was timber, or, at least, where 

 the timber was sparse. They are not generally abundant in the thickly-wooded districts; and 

 I never met them in a broad prairie countrj^, unless in the vicinity of " timber islands " or 

 wooded streams. 



It is exceedingly abundant on the Nisqually plains, Puget Sound, principally affecting the 

 vicinity of small clusters of the oak. Those that I have noticed striking their prey, such as 

 finches, small larks, &c., generally do so in the following manner: The hawk soars around and 

 about the prairies at a short distance above the ground; upon discovering his victim quietly 

 feeding in the grass, he makes a sudden downward sweep, and generally succeeds in carrying 

 off his victim. This hawk appears to delight in soaring about, in, and out of low trees, ap- 

 parently for mere pastime. It also spends much time on the ground, probably in quest of 

 grasshoppers and other insects. It is easily approached and killed. Two specimens sent from 

 Puget Sound to the Smithsonian museum measured as follows: No. 346, <J , April 20, 1856, 11, 

 23; No. 399, ?, May, 1856, 11^, 23^ inches.— S. 



Sub-family ACCIPITRINAE. Slender Hawks. 



ASTUR ATRICAPILLUS, Bonaparte. 



The Goshawk. 



Falco atrieapillus, Wilson, Am. Dm. VII, 89, pi. 52, 6g. 3. 



Jlslnr atrieapillus, Bonap. Oss. Cuv. Reff. An. p. 33. 



^.atrieapillus, (Wilson,) Baird and Cassin, Gon. Rep. Birds, p. 15. — Newberry, P. R. R. Rep. vol. VI, 



Zoology, p. 74. 

 Falco palumbarius , hws . Aud. B. of Am. pi. 141 ; oot.ed. I, pi. 23. 

 Sp. Ch. — Above colored much like F. nigriceps, but much larger; and with the under parts mottled with narrow transverse 

 lines of whit and light ashy brown. 



Young: above dark brown, mottled witli light reddish ; tail light ashy, with five wide brown bands; underneath white or 

 tinged with red or yellow ; every feather with a brown stripe, mostly ending in an ovate spot. 

 Female: length, 22 to,24 ; wing, 14 ; tail, 10| to 11 inches. 

 Male: length, 20 inches ; wing, 12| ; tail, 9^ inches. 

 No. 4516 (120) Shoalwater bay, January 20, 1855. 

 Toung female : length 94 ; extent, 44 ; tail 11.50. 

 Iris yellow, bill bluish black and white, feet greenish yellow. 



